This Hispanic Heritage Month, members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus are honoring the rich history, significant contributions and lasting influence of the Latino community in Illinois and throughout the nation.

“I represent my heritage everyday by showing up for our Latino communities, whether that is through my advocacy in Springfield or support in the district,” said ILLC co-chair Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Representing my heritage means celebrating our culture and advocating for our community every day, not just during special months.”

Through their engagement with local Latino nonprofits and their commitment to mentorship, members articulate how they embody their cultural heritage in their daily lives. They also acknowledge the trailblazing pioneers who have paved the way for future generations. As they reflect on these achievements, they remain committed in their vision for positive changes that will uplift and empower the Latino community throughout Illinois.

This year, members of the Latino Caucus have shared how they embody their heritage year-round, expressing their pride in the diverse aspects of their communities and cultures. From rich culinary traditions to a robust entrepreneurial spirit, they articulate the vital role Latinos play in strengthening our state.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

SWANSEA – State Senator Christopher Belt is joining the Illinois State Board of Education in inviting residents to nominate a local school board member for the Thomas Lay Burroughs Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding member of an Illinois school board.

“I served four years on a local school board and know firsthand how important their duties are,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “School board members put care and quality into their districts to enhance the value of our students’ education. If you know a board member who has continued to make a positive impact on their school district, I urge you to nominate them for this respected award.”

The Thomas Lay Burroughs Award was created in 1991 in memory of late ISBE Chairman Tom Burroughs and is presented each November at a conference hosted jointly by the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.

PEORIA – Thanks to State Senator Dave Koehler’s support of the Illinois Grocery Initiative, a Peoria supermarket and 10 other stores across the state have received $8 million in combined funding to fight food insecurity.

“It has been difficult to fill the void of grocery stores that have been in our neighborhood for years and have suddenly closed—leaving people without a routine source for their essential food and goods,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This grant program will revitalize our community by making high-quality groceries more easily accessible.”

The New Stores in Food Deserts Program supports the establishment of new grocery stores in USDA-defined food deserts. These grants will fund construction and renovation costs for new stores, as well as many first-year operations costs, such as employee wages, utility costs, initial inventory of food and more.

Harvest Supermarket, based out of Peoria, was awarded $1,666,472 from the program for a full building renovation and new energy-efficient equipment. Supermarkets in Chicago, Rockford, and Carlinville also received funds from this program.

Holmes celebrates new CyrusOne data center in Aurora

AURORA — Alongside Governor JB Pritzker, the CyrusOne team and other local elected officials, State Senator Linda Holmes celebrated the groundbreaking of the new CyrusOne data center in Aurora last week.

“CyrusOne is a global leader in data center development and has once again chosen Aurora to be its home for this expansion project,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “This new data center brings critical investments to our community, including hundreds of new jobs and millions in tax contributions over time."

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Feigenholtz honored with LGBTQ+ bar association award

CHICAGO — State Senator Sara Feigenholtz was recognized with the Advocate Award at LAGBAC’s Lawyers for Diversity celebration for her decades-long work in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“The privilege I have of working alongside the LGBTQIA+ legal community cannot be understated,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “Standing alongside the passionate, sharp minds of the legal community and the street fighters and activists who got us here has been nothing short of breathtaking.”

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New grocery stores coming to Illinois food deserts thanks to Belt's grocery initiative

PEORIA — The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced 11 awards totaling $7.9 million through the Illinois Grocery Initiative New Stores and Equipment Upgrades Grant Programs to address food deserts and prevent grocery store closures in Illinois.

“Ensuring all communities have access to fresh, quality food is not just a priority – it’s a necessity,” said State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea). “This funding through the Illinois Grocery Initiative is a major step toward eliminating food deserts in the state so every family, regardless of where they live, has reliable access to healthy food.”

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Illinois State Beach Park Shoreline Stabilization Project is a major success

ZION — State Senator Mary Edly-Allen alongside Governor JB Pritzker and elected local officials across the Lake County area came together last week to celebrate the milestone of the Illinois State Beach Park Shoreline Stabilization project’s completion with a ribbon cutting.

“This project was urgently needed and Illinois now stands as a leader in responsible shoreline stabilization,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “This intervention was necessary to protect the last remaining natural shoreline in the state. I want to thank the governor and the General Assembly for this waterfront project that will help Lake County’s shoreline, native species, residents and visitors.”

Read more.

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PEORIA – The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced 11 awards totaling $7.9 million through the Illinois Grocery Initiative New Stores and Equipment Upgrades Grant Programs to address food deserts and prevent grocery store closures in Illinois.

“Ensuring all communities have access to fresh, quality food is not just a priority – it’s a necessity,” said State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea). “This funding through the Illinois Grocery Initiative is a major step toward eliminating food deserts in the state so every family, regardless of where they live, has reliable access to healthy food.”

Belt championed the Grocery Initiative Act in 2023 to tackle the increasing number of food deserts in the state. Under this law, DCEO is required to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to grocery stores located in or to be located in a food desert. 

ZION — State Senator Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville) alongside Governor JB Pritzker and elected local officials across the Lake County area came together Monday to celebrate the milestone of the Illinois State Beach Park Shoreline Stabilization project’s completion with a ribbon cutting.

Illinois Beach State Park required immediate intervention to restore the natural lakefront, which was eroding at more than 100 feet per year and putting rare habitat at risk. The $73 million investment by the Rebuild Illinois capital plan allowed for the necessary construction of new offshore stone breakwater structures to shelter the Lake Michigan shoreline from wave energy. The breakwaters assist in retaining the newly-placed sand, preserve the surrounding ecosystems, and enhance public access to the beach.

“This project was urgently needed and Illinois now stands as a leader in responsible shoreline stabilization,” said Edly-Allen. “This intervention was necessary to protect the last remaining natural shoreline in the state. I want to thank the governor and the General Assembly for this waterfront project that will help Lake County’s shoreline, native species, residents and visitors.”

AURORA – Alongside Governor JB Pritzker, the CyrusOne team and other local elected officials, State Senator Linda Holmes celebrated the groundbreaking of the new CyrusOne data center in Aurora on Wednesday.

“CyrusOne is a global leader in data center development and has once again chosen Aurora to be its home for this expansion project,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “This new data center brings critical investments to our community, including hundreds of new jobs and millions in tax contributions over time.”

The new $350 million data center is CyrusOne’s second campus in Aurora. The expansion project includes the creation of two new buildings with a total of 446,000 square feet. The new data center will provide advanced digital infrastructure services to local communities and national networks.

CHICAGO – State Senator Willie Preston joined the Eugene S. Pike House Foundation, Beverly Area Arts Alliance and Commissioner Stanley Moore Saturday to announce significant state funding secured by Preston to save, renovate and reinvigorate the Pike House.

“This investment not only honors the rich history of our community, but also ensures future generations will have the opportunity to connect with and learn from this important landmark,” said Preston. "I am incredibly grateful to have been able to secure this generous funding to preserve our heritage.”

Preston announced he has secured $1.5 million in state funding to save the historic Pike House.